Roboy 3DPrinted Humanoid Robot

Roboy is a work in progress; the project is being used as a test-bed for the use of 3D printing technology to fully replicate the human musculoskeletal system.

(Roboy 3D printed robot video)

The plan is to continue improving the models of Roboy iteratively, until he (it seems to me that Roboy is a boy) is able to perform in a way that’s “comparable to humans in dexterity, robustness and flexibility.” The first prototype was called Roboy Junior and was developed in just nine months several years ago. Roboy’s complete skeletal body structure was created using EOS systems for plastic additive manufacturing. Instead of motors, Roboy Junior actually has muscles and tendons in his joints.

The fact that Roboy is a work in progress reminded me of the 1958 story Brother Robot. Starting out as a baby robot, the robot grows quickly to somewhat more menacing proportions.